Oiko Petersem executing the project Downtown Collection invites us to confront our own prejudices. It is an opportunity to meet cultural barriers and stereotypes regarding perception of physically and intellectually handicapped people. Dealing with this subject, the photographer not only invites to discussion on beauty in general but points attention to low level of integration of people suffering from Down’s syndrome in our country. This project is to help to better know the world of people with Down’s syndrome and sensitize us to the presence of the Other.
Using the language of advertising, Petersen completely adjusts to the rules of such language. Faking a campaign of a new line of clothes, in fact he creates an advertising campaign for an idea. Similarly to commercial ads, it is a selective and overaesthetized vision aimed to make us want to buy. In the Downtown Collection series Oiko photographs several people in a way reserved to aesthetic fashion photographs.
The author proves that people with the Down’s syndrome do not have to be sad and unhappy and their inner world can be funny and moving.
Instytut Teatralny
Aleje Ujazdowskie 45
00-536 Warsaw
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